Frederik Hammes, who stepped into the role of managing director of Gamescom Dev after Stephan Reichart earlier this year, points to the latest Gamescom Dev speaker survey as evidence that today’s most promising segment of the games market lies with smaller development houses. In his conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Hammes explains that while a compact team can punch above its weight creatively and technically, the need for solid business management does not disappear.
"You can accomplish a lot with just a handful of people, but someone still has to handle the commercial side," he says. "I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where developers can access everything they need—production expertise, programming know‑how, creative direction, design insights—and also pick up the fundamentals of running a business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the business fundamentals remain crucial." The event, which was renamed from Devcom to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, now effectively extends the overall Gamescom experience into a full‑week affair.
Hammes believes that aligning the two conferences under a single brand brings clear advantages. "We now have a strong, established partner in Gamescom, and that creates many practical benefits," he notes. "Previously, attendees had to navigate two separate conferences, two ticketing systems, and two distinct purchasing processes, which made the overall experience fragmented.
Today it’s a single ticket shop: you buy one pass and you have access to everything from Monday through Friday, seamlessly moving between Gamescom and Gamescom Dev." This year’s programme is ambitious, featuring 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Yet Hammes cautions that success should not be measured purely by numbers. "It’s not a numbers game.
We’re not chasing arbitrary targets; it’s about matching supply with demand. The market is becoming more specialised, and we want to reflect that," he says. A practical limitation for the event is its current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse. While the space comfortably accommodates the present schedule, Hammes acknowledges that there is "limited room to grow".
Should the industry continue its rapid expansion, the organisers may need to consider moving closer to the main Gamescom site or finding a larger facility. "We’re not planning a massive expansion right now because that would require a more complex logistical shift, possibly relocating nearer to Gamescom.
If the democratization of game development continues—if more indie and micro‑studios emerge—we’ll need additional capacity to serve them all," he explains. Gamescom Dev traces its origins back to 2017, when it was launched to fill the void left by the departure of GDC Europe. Although the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor.
Instead, he emphasizes a spirit of community and mutual benefit. "We’re separate organisations, each trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere isn’t cut‑throat. The industry is like a global circus—people travel from one conference to another, sharing knowledge and networking. If all events thrive, the whole ecosystem benefits." He also comments on the challenges currently facing GDC, noting that external factors have created a difficult environment for the conference.
"Our colleagues at GDC are dealing with issues beyond their control, and I hope the situation improves for them. In the end, we all want the industry to be healthy." A noteworthy addition to this year’s agenda is the introduction of Leadership Summits. These one‑day, invitation‑only gatherings give senior executives a private space to converse without the presence of the press, microphones, or recording equipment.
Hammes stresses the importance of such “safe spaces” during turbulent times. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas. When we started the summit, every participant raised their hand to admit they had delivered bad news that year, and all kept their hands raised when asked if they had received bad news themselves. The climate is tough, and leaders often feel pressure to project confidence.
These summits let them be candid and discuss real challenges." The speaker survey also revealed a split opinion on artificial intelligence. While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill to cultivate. Hammes interprets this gap as a sign that the industry may be overestimating AI’s impact while under‑preparing for it, or vice versa.
"My conclusion is that it’s actually neither. When you ask what skill truly matters, leadership tops the list at 27 % of respondents. That tells us we recognise change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We need leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty." In summary, Hammes paints a picture of an industry at a crossroads: smaller studios are poised to capture a growing share of the market, yet they must balance creative agility with sound business practices.
Gamescom Dev aims to support this balance by offering a comprehensive platform that blends technical education, creative inspiration, and business acumen—all under one roof. As the event evolves, its organizers remain mindful of venue constraints, the importance of collaboration with sister conferences, and the need to provide leaders with the space to navigate an increasingly complex and AI‑influenced landscape.